RESUMO
There is controversy about the use of routine antibiotic administration. It is almost inevitable that a burned surface will become colonized by microorganisms. The administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics ca routine basis is likely to encourage the emergence of resistant organisms. Children suffering from burn wounds are often given routine antibiotics lo limit the possibility of metastatic infection. Almost any organism may colonize a wound. Frequent wound swabs should be cultured and where there is any rise in temperature, blood cultures should be taken. Aim of the Work: To assess the rate of infection, the different types of causative microorganisms and its relation to their antibiotic sensitivity in the burn unit at Suez Canal University Hospital and to find out how to reduce the burn wound sepsis in the burn unit. The study was carried out by means of data collection and analysis. The source of the data was the medical records of the patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The records were available and registered at Suez Canal University Hospital. This was a descriptive retrospective study that was conducted in the burn unit at Suez Canal University Hospital in the years 2001, 2002 and 2003. In our study, 248 patients were included representing all patients that were admitted in our burn unit in the years 2001, 2002 and 2003 and fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria mentioned in the methodology. The study population was divided into two groups; group I represents the patients <17 years [children and adolescents] [51%] of the study population, and group II represents the patients >17 years [adults and elder people] [49%] of the study population. Early detection of the occurrence of infection in burn wounds, proper antibiotics according to culture and sensitivity, improving hemoglobin and albumin levels of the patients and frequent burn wound dressing and debridement all contribute to decrease the rate of infection